A picture switch is performed to select a right picture and a left picture, a right picture and a right picture, or a left picture and a left picture without changing the kind and format of a video signal before and after a switch of a 2D picture and a 3D picture of an endoscopic system, and a picture shift is performed to horizontally shift the right picture and the left picture, and the pictures are then output to a monitor.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. An endoscopic system comprising: an endoscope configured to acquire each of right-eye and left-eye optical images to generate right-eye and left-eye imaging signals which indicate the respective right-eye and left-eye optical images; a first processor configured to convert the right-eye imaging signal into a right-eye video signal; a second processor configured to convert the left-eye imaging signal into a left-eye video signal; a video mixer unit to which each of the video signals is input from the endoscope, the video mixer unit being configured to output either one of a stereoscopic video signal based on both the right-eye and left eye video signals and a planar video signal based only on one of the right-eye and left-eye video signals; and a switch configured to, upon operation by a user, output an instruction signal to instruct which of the stereoscopic video signal and the planar video signal is output from the video mixer unit, wherein the video mixer unit comprises; a first selector configured to select one of the right-eye video signal and the left-eye video signal; a second selector configured to select one of the right-eye video signal and the left-eye video signal that is not selected by the first selector if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the stereoscopic video signal, and to select one of the right-eye video signal and the left-eye video signal that is the same as the video signal selected by the first selector if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the planar video signal; a first picture shift circuit configured to horizontally shift the video signal selected by the first selector according to a given shift value; a second picture shift circuit configured to horizontally shift the video signal selected by the second selector according to a given shift value; a picture composing circuit configured to synthesize the video signal from the first picture shift circuit with the video signal from the second picture shift circuit to generate a 3D format video signal; and a video signal transmitter configured to output the 3D format video signal to a monitor, wherein the first picture shift circuit is given a shift value for horizontally shifting the video signal selected by the first selector if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the stereoscopic video signal, and is given a shift value indicative of not subjecting the video signal selected by the first selector to the horizontal shifting if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the planar video signal, wherein the second picture shift circuit is given a shift value for horizontally shifting the video signal selected by the second selector to provide the video signal with a parallax to the video signal selected by the first selector if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the stereoscopic video signal, and is given a shift value indicative of not subjecting the video signal selected by the second selector to the horizontal shifting if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the planar video signal, and wherein the picture composing circuit is configured to: generate the 3D format video signal for the video signal subjected to the shifting at and output from each of the first picture shift circuit and the second picture shift circuit if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the stereoscopic video signal; and generate the 3D format video signal for the video signal not subjected to the shifting at and output from each of the first picture shift circuit and the second picture shift circuit if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the planar video signal.
An endoscopic system displays 3D or 2D images from an endoscope with right and left eye optical images. The system includes: An endoscope that captures right and left eye images, converting them to video signals. A video mixer takes these signals and outputs either a stereoscopic (3D) or planar (2D) video signal, selectable by the user. A switch lets the user choose between 3D and 2D. Inside the video mixer: Two selectors choose either the right or left eye video signal. If 3D is selected, they pick different signals; if 2D, they pick the same signal. Two picture shift circuits horizontally shift each selected video signal by a specified amount. When 3D is selected, the signals are shifted to create parallax; when 2D, no shift occurs. A composing circuit combines the shifted signals into a 3D format video signal, outputted to a monitor by a transmitter.
2. The endoscopic system according to claim 1 , wherein the 3D format video signal from the picture composing circuit is output to a picture recorder.
The endoscopic system from the previous description which displays 3D or 2D images from an endoscope sends the generated 3D format video signal from the picture composing circuit not only to a monitor, but also to a picture recorder for storage. This allows the 3D endoscopic images to be recorded for later review or analysis. The rest of the system consists of an endoscope that captures right and left eye images, converting them to video signals. A video mixer takes these signals and outputs either a stereoscopic (3D) or planar (2D) video signal, selectable by the user. Inside the video mixer are components for selecting the right or left eye video signals, shifting them, and then composing them for a 3D effect.
3. The endoscopic system according to claim 1 , wherein the video signal transmitter is configured to output the 3D format video signal by a side-by-side method.
The endoscopic system from the first description outputs the generated 3D format video signal using a side-by-side method. This means the right and left eye views are compressed and placed next to each other within the video frame, allowing for 3D viewing on compatible displays. The rest of the system includes an endoscope, video signal converters, a video mixer with selectors and shift circuits, and a user-operated switch to select between 2D and 3D modes, all working together to capture and process stereoscopic images.
4. The endoscopic system according to claim 2 , wherein the picture recorder is configured to record the 3D format video signal of a side-by-side method output from the video signal transmitter.
The endoscopic system which records 3D or 2D images captures 3D video in side-by-side format. The picture recorder specifically records the 3D format video signal that is in a side-by-side format as output from the video signal transmitter. The system includes an endoscope, video signal converters, a video mixer with selectors and shift circuits, a user-operated switch to select between 2D and 3D modes, and a video transmitter, along with the picture recorder.
5. The endoscopic system according to claim 1 , wherein the switch is provided in at least one of a handle of the endoscope or the video mixer unit.
In the endoscopic system that displays 3D or 2D images from an endoscope, the switch used to select between 2D and 3D display modes is located either on the handle of the endoscope itself, or on the video mixer unit. This provides convenient access for the user to change the display mode during a procedure. The rest of the system consists of an endoscope, video signal converters, a video mixer with selectors and shift circuits, and a video transmitter to output the selected video signal.
6. The endoscopic system according to claim 1 , further comprising: a display configured to input the 3D format video signal output from the video signal transmitter and then to display a picture based on the 3D format video signal, wherein the first picture shift circuit is configured to perform shift processing for the right-eye video signal or the left-eye video signal selected by the first selector so that the right-eye video signal and the left-eye video signal has a predetermined distance therebetween, wherein when the instruction signal is switched from instructing output of the stereoscopic video signal to instructing output of the planar video signal, the first selector is configured to continue the selection of one of the right-eye video signal and the left-eye video signal, and the second selector is configured to cut off the selection of the other video signal or replace the selection of the one video signal with the selection of the other video signal, and wherein when the instruction signal is switched from instructing output of the planar video signal to instructing output of the stereoscopic video signal, the display is configured to continue displaying the picture, and after another 3D format video signal is output based on the selection of the different video signal at the second selector and the shift processing at the second picture shift circuit, the display is configured to display a picture based on the another 3D format video signal.
The endoscopic system from the initial description, which displays 3D or 2D images, includes a display monitor for viewing the 3D format video signal. The system shifts right and left eye video signals with a set distance. When the user switches from 3D to 2D, the first selector maintains its video signal, while the second selector stops selection or switches to select the same signal. When switching from 2D back to 3D, the display keeps showing the image; after the second selector picks a new signal and shift occurs, a 3D image appears. This provides seamless transitions between 2D and 3D viewing.
7. The endoscopic system according to claim 2 , further comprising: a second switch configured to, upon operation by a user, output a second instruction signal to instruct whether the 3D format video signal generated by the picture composing circuit is output from the video signal transmitter or the 3D format video signal recorded in the picture recorder is output; a third selector configured to select output of the video signal selected by the first selector or output of a left-eye video signal component of the 3D format video signal input from the picture recorder, according to the second instruction signal from the second switch; and a fourth selector configured to select output of the video signal selected by the second selector or output of a right-eye video signal component of the 3D format video signal input from the picture recorder, according to the second instruction signal from the second switch.
The endoscopic system that records 3D or 2D images has a second switch which lets the user select whether the 3D format video signal from the video composing circuit is outputted by the video signal transmitter, or the 3D format video signal recorded in the picture recorder is outputted. Two more selectors choose between the live or recorded video signal. Based on user input, the third selector picks either the left-eye component of the recorder's 3D signal or the video the first selector picked; the fourth selector selects the right-eye component or the video the second selector picked. The rest of the system includes the endoscope, video signal converters, a video mixer, shift circuits, and the main switch between 2D/3D modes.
8. An endoscopic system comprising: an endoscope configured to acquire each of right-eye and left-eye optical images to generate right-eye and left-eye imaging signals which indicate the respective right-eye and left-eye optical images; a first imaging signal conversion circuit configured to convert the right-eye imaging signal into a right-eye video signal; a second imaging signal conversion circuit configured to convert the left-eye imaging signal into a left-eye video signal; a video mixer unit to which each of the video signals is input from the endoscope, the video mixer unit being configured to output either one of a stereoscopic video signal based on both the right-eye and left eye video signals and a planar video signal based only on one of the right-eye and left-eye video signals; and a switch configured to, upon operation by a user, output an instruction signal to instruct which of the stereoscopic video signal and the planar video signal is output from the video mixer unit, wherein the video mixer unit comprises; a first selector configured to select one of the right-eye video signal and the left-eye video signal; a second selector configured to select one of the right-eye video signal and the left-eye video signal that is not selected by the first selector if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the stereoscopic video signal, and to select one of the right-eye video signal and the left-eye video signal that is the same as the video signal selected by the first selector if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the planar video signal; a first picture shift circuit configured to horizontally shift the video signal selected by the first selector according to a given shift value; a second picture shift circuit configured to horizontally shift the video signal selected by the second selector according to a given shift value; a picture composing circuit configured to synthesize the video signal from the first picture shift circuit with the video signal from the second picture shift circuit to generate a 3D format video signal; and a video signal transmitter configured to output the 3D format video signal to a monitor, wherein the first picture shift circuit is given a shift value for horizontally shifting the video signal selected by the first selector if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the stereoscopic video signal, and is given a shift value indicative of not subjecting the video signal selected by the first selector to the horizontal shifting if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the planar video signal, wherein the second picture shift circuit is given a shift value for horizontally shifting the video signal selected by the second selector to provide the video signal with a parallax to the video signal selected by the first selector if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the stereoscopic video signal, and is given a shift value indicative of not subjecting the video signal selected by the second selector to the horizontal shifting if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the planar video signal, and wherein the picture composing circuit is configured to: generate the 3D format video signal for the video signal subjected to the shifting at and output from each of the first picture shift circuit and the second picture shift circuit if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the stereoscopic video signal; and generate the 3D format video signal for the video signal not subjected to the shifting at and output from each of the first picture shift circuit and the second picture shift circuit if the instruction signal from the switch instructs to output the planar video signal.
An endoscopic system displays 3D or 2D images from an endoscope with right and left eye optical images. The system includes: An endoscope that captures right and left eye images, converting them to video signals. A video mixer takes these signals and outputs either a stereoscopic (3D) or planar (2D) video signal, selectable by the user. A switch lets the user choose between 3D and 2D. Inside the video mixer: Two selectors choose either the right or left eye video signal. If 3D is selected, they pick different signals; if 2D, they pick the same signal. Two picture shift circuits horizontally shift each selected video signal by a specified amount. When 3D is selected, the signals are shifted to create parallax; when 2D, no shift occurs. A composing circuit combines the shifted signals into a 3D format video signal, outputted to a monitor by a transmitter.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
October 2, 2015
September 5, 2017
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.